diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/lib.go b/pkg/yqlib/lib.go
index 6fc0b168..2bab479e 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/lib.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/lib.go
@@ -166,6 +166,24 @@ func NodeToString(node *CandidateNode) string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf(`D%v, P%v, (%v)::%v`, node.Document, node.Path, tag, buf.String())
 }
 
+// EvaluateNodes takes an expression and one or more yaml nodes, returning a list of matching candidate nodes
+func EvaluateNodes(expression string, nodes ...*yaml.Node) (*list.List, error) {
+	inputCandidates := list.New()
+	for _, node := range nodes {
+		inputCandidates.PushBack(&CandidateNode{Node: node})
+	}
+	return EvaluateCandidateNodes(expression, inputCandidates)
+}
+
+// EvaluateCandidateNodes takes an expression and list of candidate nodes, returning a list of matching candidate nodes
+func EvaluateCandidateNodes(expression string, inputCandidates *list.List) (*list.List, error) {
+	node, err := treeCreator.ParsePath(expression)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return treeNavigator.GetMatchingNodes(inputCandidates, node)
+}
+
 func KindString(kind yaml.Kind) string {
 	switch kind {
 	case yaml.ScalarNode: